Arcuri Calls on Rangel to Resign

Rep. Mike Arcuri of Utica on Friday became the first Democrat in the New York congressional delegation to call for Rep. Charles Rangel’s resignation.

With the fall elections approaching, a handful of House Democrats in closely contested races in states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky have called for Rangel to step down after the House ethics committee charged the 80-year-old Harlem Democrat with 13 violations of House rules.

“Congressman Rangel should think about stepping down because this situation is beginning to affect our ability to govern,” said Arcuri, a former district attorney.

Arcuri is in a toss-up battle for re-election against businessman Richard Hanna in the 24th Congressional District covering parts of central New York and the Southern Tier.

Read more: (Brian Tumulty, “Arcuri Calls on Rangel to Resign,” Gannett Washington Bureau, 07/30/10)